Receptacle for mopping machines



' J n 1930- w. s. FINNELL 1,767,840

RECEPTACLE FOR MOPP ING HACHINES 7 Filed Aug. 8, 1 927 Patented June 24,1930 WALTER s. FINNELL, or ELKHARI, mAm

rarest orrics.

nEoEr'r cLE F03 Meier-ms vIAcH-INEs Application. filed August 8, 1927.Serial "No. 211,420.

' My invention relates to an improved receptacle embodying a'mopsupporting shield and drain control, and which is adapted particularly.for use in floor mopping ,marchines. v V v One of the objects-of my"vinvention is .to provide a si1nple,..inexpensive highly efficient andreadily detachable drain control means "for :receptacles of ,this'character which is self-closable and which is adapted to drain all ofthe'water (and any dirt therein) from the receptacle quickly and with aminimum of effort on the part of the operat0r,the arrangement being suchthat the possibility of leakage and accidental opening of the: drain andaccidentally leaving the drain open is eliminated.

Another object is to provide 'a cheap,

lightweight and efiicientlmop shield in the receptacle to support themop prior to and during the wringing operation and to keep I the sameout of thewater which may be in the tank, the .shield being firmlysupported in horizontal position and being so constructed and mounted Ias. to be readily andquickly inserted and removed from the receptaclefor cleaning and the like purposes. The shield is also mounted in such amanner that it may be raised and lowered from its normal horizontalposition without detachment of the same. 1 V

- Other and further. objects willbecome apparent as this descriptionprognessest and by "reference to the Q wherein,- c V Figure 1 is aperspective view of a mopping machine embodying myinvention; v

i Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken psubsta'ntially on line.2- 2 of Fig; 3' and 40 clearly illustratingmy mop shield'and drain 1"control means as appliedto a so-calleddirtywater receptacle.

;'Fig. Bisa plan perspective view (slightly-- reduced) of thereceptacle'of Fig."- 2. r

Fig.4 is an enlarged partial section taken V substantially on the lineof Fig ."z2fland clearly illustrating the construction of one I ofithe'fmop shield supports and an adjacent part of the shield.

accompanying drawingswith various kinds of mopping machinery and in thedrawing 1 have shown it as applied to .a portable mop truck 1O mountedon wheels ll and adaptedto support a dirty waterreceptacle -12 andaclean water receptacle 18, My invention is particularly adapted to the,dirty waterreceptacle and will be described specifically as appliedthereto-,however, it is to be understood that it, and particularly thedrain control means,

maybe applied to both receptacles and .ina like mannen Thesetworeceptacles 12 and 13 may be separately constructed -and' mou'nte das'shown in Fig.1, or a single receptacle maybe employed of desired sizeand havinga partition -to divide-the sameinto a dirty watercompartmentand a clean- Water compartment, I 7

' The dirty-water receptacle 12 is, prefer ably, but not necessarily,rectangular in shape and is detachably mounted beneath a wringer 14crigidly supported'bytheframe work 10 of the truck. In use, the dirty mopmaybe passed throughithe -wringer 14:

in a well known mannerto remove thedirty water therefrom, the waterpassing from the mop into the receptacle beneath; Themop is next rinsedin the clean water tank 13 and againpassed throughthe 'wringer .14

to finally clean and dry it for further mop- V ping. .During theforegoing wringing operation,'. as is "well understood, the .wringer"rolls are separated and the mop passed therebetween and the wringeragain closed and ,1 operated :to draw, the mop between the a closedrolls; It is highly desirable,.when the wringer 14: is opened and therinsed mop passedbetween the rolls, that itbe prevented fromcoming incontact with the dirty,

water in thereceptaclelZ. I To this end, I -provide ali shield 15 in thereceptacle 12 above thelevel of the water therein, and this shield alsose'rvesas a support for the mop prior tothe wringing operation.Theshi'eld approximating the cross-sectional shape of the receptacleandit has its edges spaced 1 I v i I e from 'the'walls offthereceptaclelto-p'ermit 1My inventionimay be used; in connection 1 which'Iemploy ispreferably, formed-of a I {lightweight piece of sheet metal ofashape the waterifrom the m'opto' freely flowtherei g 6 of thereceptacle.

past into the lowervpart of the receptacle.

twoopposite sides of the receptacle, flexible metal strips 16 eachhaving one end rigidly secured in any desiredmanner, preferably pprevent the operator accidentally. leaving,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, to the top edge so formed that its other andfree end pro- .jects downwardly and inwardly-otthe receptacle Each stripis provided, at itsfree end, with an opening 16 adapted to freelyreceive the end of a rod 17 which passes "through suitable openings 18in a down- 'wardly dependingfiange 18 which extends around the edge ofthe shield In this man- I ner the shield is pivotally carried by the 2ostrips 'l6and' it may be readily and quickly disengaged by springingthestrips 16 away from the shield toward the adjacent side 'walls.Theshieldis'rigidly supported in its horizontal mop-supporting positionby another metal'str'ip '19 having its one end attached to anoppositeside wall of the .fcan'in'a manner similar to strips 16, and

having its other end- 'free' andextended V downwardlyand inwardly withva hookpart of the flange 18 of the shieldQ This like 'part 19 adapted toreceive the adjacent smp 19 may be pressed or sprung inwardly againstthe adjacent wall to permit the -shield to be" swung-"about its pivotrod 17 to a' raised or lowered position. Furthermore, this torm of strapsupport readily i"permits of spacing of the shield edge from thereceptacle jwalls.=

It is desirable that 1 the Water, together with sediment and dirtthereirnbe drained from the receptacle from time tojtime. tVith faucetsor. other drain outlets pre- *viously located in the sidewalls of suchreceptacles, all of the watercand dirt inv the can could not be readilydrained and accidentally opened orv being accidentally left in openedpositionwhereby :the water nates all of these objectionable featuresasthere was the possibility ofthe'i drains being would flow nponand soilthe [already cleaned .floor surface. My invention elimifollows:

Each of these strips is 'tor.

upper end of the rod 22 is provided with a handle extension 25 whichpermits the same to be readily grasped and reciprocated by the operator.All of this drain control structure is located within the receptacle andthe parts are so arranged that the drainwill not be accidentally opened.

To render the plug self-closableand to the drain open, I interpose aspring 26 between the lower guide 2 s and a suitable stop 27 fixed uponthe rod which is normally Although I have shown" and... described onlyone form of myinvention, Ido not desire to be limited toIthat'specific'form; because it is obvious that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departingirom the spirit andscope of my invention as defined by the claims which follow.

1 claim: 7 a V v 1. In a receptaclefor mopping apparatus, a mop shield;andv means tor supporting under compression forcing and holding the saidshield in 7. horizontal position in and V spaced from the walls of saidreceptacle, in-

eluding flexible straps suspended iroinoppodisconnected by springin fromsaid shield toward said Walls. 1

.2 Ina receptacle for mopping apparatus, a flat mop'shield having desending flange around itsedge; and means for supporting said shield inhorizontal position spaced from the .walls ct said receptacle comprislngflexlble straps suspended from opposite; slde walls of the receptacleand extendlng n g said straps away downwardly and angularly, away'iromsaid walls, ahinge rod carriedby the'iiange off saidshield and engaging'the free vends}oi'-v said flexiblelstraps, and anotherstrap dependingfrom anotherwall .ofthereceptacle and havin a hooked end; ortlonwlnch'receivesthe adjacent part of saidshield flange. 3..In'i a moppingrmachinefreceptacle, j.a V I horizontallyvdisposed shield in, therecejjtacle; 'forfsupporting a mop and for keeping it from contact withwater thereinfsaid shield being'spajced-from theWalls', of thereceptacle j to permit water to pass freely thereb gand means.carriedbysaid receptacle for. supportsite walls-of the receptacle andhaving their E 9 7 free endsextendingdownwardly and angularly away fromsaid walls, and means carried by said shield engaging the free end ofsaid straps torsupporting one shield edge,

and means for supporting anotheredge'sun face of said shield, the shieldbeing readily ing said shield in horizontal position including membershaving attaching portions engaging opposite sides of said shield, saidattaching portions permitting said shield to be swung upwardly anddownwardly when released from at least one 01 said members.

4. In a mopping machine receptacle, a horizontally disposed shieldin-the receptacle for supporting a mop and keeping it from contact withwater therein, said shield being spaced from the walls of thereceptacle'to permit water to pass freely thereby, means carried by saidreceptacle walls for swingably supporting one edge of said shieldpermitting it to be swung upwardly and downwardly, said means being alsoyieldable toward the adjacent receptacle wall to permit the same tobe'disengaged from said shield for removal of the shield from thereceptacle, and additional means carried by said receptacle forsupporting an opposite edge of said shield to hold the shield in ahorizontal position. 5. In a moppingmachine receptacle, a horizontallydisposed'shield in the receptacle for supporting a mop and for keepingit from contact with the water therein, said shield being spaced fromthe walls of the receptacle to permit water to pass freely thereby,straps carried by and extending downwardly and away from opposite wallsof the receptacle, a pivotal connection between said straps and saidshield, another strap carried by another wall of the receptacle forsupporting another part of said shield to position it in horizontalposition.

6. In a mopping machine, the combina-' tion with a water receptaclehaving an outlet in its bottom wall, of a horizontally-disposed mop restwithin and spaced from the walls'of the receptacle, a valve forcontrolling said outlet, a handled operating rod for said valveextending past said rest to a point convenient to the operator, butdisposed wholly within said receptacle, supporting means for said valverod,gsaid rest being cut away at one edge to accommodate said rod andsupport and to permit water to pass freely therebetween, and meansacting on said rod and opposing opening movement of said valve andrendering it sel'f-closable when said handle is released.

7. In a mopping machine, a receptacle having a flat mop shield therein,a hinge connection including a yieldable element between the shield andthe receptacle at one end of said shield, said element being adapted forlateral'movement to disengage said shield andrreceptacle, andv adisplaceable support on the receptacle for receiving an opposite edge ofsaid rest for positioning it in ahorizontal position.

8.. In a receptacle for mopping apparatus, a mop shield, a plurality ofsupports suspended from the walls of the receptacle each having itslower end spaced inwardly away from such walls, the edges of saidshield being detachably supported by said supports, and the number andposition of said supports being such as to hold said shield in ahorizontal position spaced from the walls of the receptacle.

9. In a receptacle for mopping apparatus, a mop shield, a plurality ofsupports suspended from the walls of said receptacle with their lowerends spaced inwardly from such walls, said shield being mounted uponsaid supports with its edges spaced from the receptacle walls, saidsupports being movable away from said shield to detach the shield, andthe number of said supports being suflicient to carry said shield in ahorizontal position.

10. In a receptacle for mopping apparatus, a mop shield, a plurality ofsupports suspended from the walls of the receptacle with their lowerends spaced inwardly away from such walls, said shield being mountedupon said supports with its edges spaced from the receptacle walls, themounting be-' tween two. or" said supports and said shield providing forhinging movement of the shield.

11. In a receptacle for mopping apparatus, ,a mop. shield adapted to becarried horizontally within the receptacle, support members carried bythe upper part of said receptacle walls extending within the. receptacleadjacent said shield, the lower ends ofsaid supports and adjacent edgesof said shield being constructed for detachable engagement with eachother.

12. In a receptacle for mopping apparatus, a mop shield mounted withinthe receptacle, and means for supporting said shield horizontally With.spacing between its edges and receptacle walls which includes spacedmembers having one end supported.

from thereceptacle and the other end free, the free ends of said membersand opposite sides of said shield being formed for detachable supportengagement.

13. In a mopping apparatus receptacle, a

mop shield disposed within the receptacle,

shield support members carried by said re ceptaclewalls and extendingtoward opposite sides of said shield with one end of each tree forengagement with said shield, opposite. sides of said shield havingattaching portions for detachably engaging said supports to support saidshield in horizontal suspended position.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

WALTER S. FINNELL.

